Gov. Robert Bentley said this morning he has not had a chance to review the U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down the Defense of Marriage act but believes marriage is a 'sacred union' between a man and a woman.

"I continue to believe that," Bentley said.

A majority of Alabamians share that view, Bentley said, citing the 81 percent of votes cast in a 2006 referendum in favor of making same sex marriages illegal.

"I believe it is a state issue," Bentley told reporters this morning. "Marriage is defined as a union between a man and woman."

Bentley said he did not think the ruling overturned the state law but said his lawyers would need to review it.